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By Adeola Adeosun
Weekend Night Editor
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Comedian Trevor Noah called out Nicki Minaj's absence from the 2026 Grammy Awards during his opening monologue on Sunday, mocking her recent alliance with President Donald Trump.
The host, 41, told the audience at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles that Minaj was "still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues," drawing loud applause from attendees including model Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend, with Teigen giving a visible thumbs up.
Noah then performed an impression of Trump, saying, "Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass. I have it, everybody's saying it Nicki. I know they say it's you, but it's me WAP, WAP, WAP. Look at it, baby."
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Later in the broadcast, following Billie Eilish's song of the year win, Noah took another jab at Trump, saying the Grammy "is a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense. I mean, because Epstein's island is gone."
The Context
Noah's public mockery reflects growing cultural backlash against Minaj's dramatic political transformation.
The rapper, who in 2020 stated she was "not gonna jump on the Donald Trump bandwagon," has now become one of Trump's most vocal celebrity supporters. Her shift has alienated significant portions of her fanbase, particularly LGBTQ+ supporters who have historically been core to her following.
Minaj's political evolution culminated in her appearance at the Trump Accounts Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 28, where she declared herself "the president's No. 1 fan."
This followed her December 2025 interview with Erika Kirk, chairwoman of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), and a November appearance at the United Nations (UN) on behalf of the Trump administration to discuss the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. She has since publicly praised both Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
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Nicki Minaj's Background: What to Know
Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and Tobago and spent her early childhood in the Saint James district, where she and her brother were raised by their grandmother alongside several cousins while their mother worked multiple jobs. Her mother later obtained a green card and moved to New York to attend college, leaving Minaj behind until she was brought to the United States at age 5 to live with her parents in Queens.
Minaj has said she arrived in the U.S. without legal status, though both of her parents had lawful permanent residency at the time. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, she has spoken candidly about growing up in an immigrant household and the instability of her early years.
Minaj rose to prominence in the late 2000s with a rapid-fire delivery, colorful alter egos and a blend of pop and hip-hop that helped reshape mainstream rap. After releasing a series of mixtapes, she broke through with her 2010 debut album Pink Friday, which produced the hit “Super Bass” and established her as one of the genre’s most commercially successful artists.
Minaj has since released multiple chart-topping albums, including Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and The Pinkprint, earning dozens of Grammy nominations and a reputation for technical lyricism and theatrical performances.
She has also been credited with opening doors for a new generation of female rappers while maintaining a dominant presence through collaborations, touring and a devoted global fan base known as the "Barbz."
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